Feeding device



y 1966 l. L. 4KAUFFMAN ET AL 3,249,483

FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1962 INVENTORS United States Patent 3,249,483 FEEDING DEVICE Ivan .L. Kaulfman, Orchard Lake, and Donald S. Annett,

Farmington, Mich., assignors to Ex-Cell-O C0rporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 2, 1962, Ser. No. 191,769

15 Claims. (Cl. 156-364) This invention relates to feeding devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for applying patches or overlay sheets of material such as cardboard to base'sheets.

It is an object of the invention to provide a feeding apparatus for successively applying overlay sheets to base sheets in a rapid and accurate manner, with the overlay sheets being at predetermined locations on the basesheets.

Other objects include providing an improved feeding device of this character which insures feed continuity and prevents the inadvertent feeding of two or more overlay sheets at a time, and providing a feeding device which automatically marks base sheets to which, through inadvertance or accident, no overlay sheets are being applied.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the feeding device shown in conjunction with aconveyor carrying base sheets to which the overlay sheets are to be applied; and FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary detailed view in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIGURE 1, parts being removed, and

showing the sensing switch and related parts.

In general terms, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a rotatable'drum made up of a group of discs above which are stacked a plurality of patches or overlay sheets to be applied to base sheets passing under the drum. The drum carries one or more circumferentially spaced initial feed members adapted to pull the undermost patch from the stack and move it away from the vicinity of the stack to a temporary stop. Timing feed members corresponding in number to the initial feed members are also carried by the drum, the angular positions of these members being accurately located .with

respect to the linear positions of the base sheets passing beneath the drum. For this purpose, the conveyor for the base sheets is driven synchronously with the drum. As each timing member passes the vicinity of the stack, it will be temporarily retracted, but will be released so as to engage the trailing edge of the temporarily stopped sheet. The timing member will dislodge the sheet from the temporary stop and move it past an adhesive applicator to the underside of the rotating drum, so that it may be impressed upon the base sheet passing beneath it.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the apparatus is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a drum generally indicated at 12 which may actually be formed by a plurality of axially spaced discs, two of these discs being indicated at 13 and 14. Drum 12 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 15 carrying a sprocket 16 driven by a timing belt 17 from a motor and gearing indicated at 18,

- Driving means 18 also serves to actuate a continuously movable conveyor 19 by means of a timing belt 21 which drives a sprocket 22 carried by a shaft 23, this shaft driving conveyor 19 by means of a rotary member 24. Conveyor 19 carries a plurality of pusher members 25 spaced in the direction'of its movement and adapted to move base sheets 26 underneath drum 12. An impression roll 27 is provided beneath drum 12 for forcing sheets 26 thereagainst. Sheet 26 may, for example, be cardboard blanks foldable to form hand-carried bottle containers of the type conventionally holding six bottles in two upright rows of three each.

3249,43 Patented May 3, 1966 ice overlay sheets are indicated at 32 while the stack itself is generally indicated at 33. Sheets 32 may, for example, comprise cardboard patches to be secured to the upper surfaces of base sheets 26, to serve as barriers between adjacent bottles when sheet 26 is folded into a bottle carrying carton. Such patches must be accurately located with respect to the edges of base sheets 26, since they have to be properly positioned when the base sheets are folded. A supporting bar 34 extends across the lower end of chute 28 adjacent wall 29, so thatwhen stack' 33 rests thereon, sheets 32 will be tilted downwardly and to the right as seen in the figure, with the right-hand edge of the lowermost sheet engaging the drum surface. Wall 31 may serve as a gate which is securable in a vertically adjusted position to form a gap 35 between the lower gate edge and the drum sufficient to permit passage to the right of only one sheet 32 at a time, succeeding sheets being gravity fed to the bottom of the stack.

A plurality of initial feed members generally indicated at 36 are mounted in circumferentially spaced relation on drum 12. In the illustrated embodiment, two initial feed members are shown ondisc 13 spaced apart, it be ing understood that disc 14 carries identical feed members at corresponding angular positions and therefore not visible in the figure. Each initial feed member may comprise a pair of small hooks 37 adapted to engage the undersurface of the lowermost sheet 32 as drum 12 rotates clockwise and each initial feed member 36 passes gap 35.

A retaining roll 38 is rotatably mounted at the outer end of 'a pivoted arm 39 immediately to the right of gap 35, arm 39 being urged by a spring 41 in a direction causing roll 38 to be pressed against drum 12. Roll 38 will hold each sheet 32 against drum 12, facilitating advance of the sheet by the drum in a clockwise direction.

An arcuately curved guide 42, in one or more sections corresponding to the discs, is provided adjacent the righthand side of drum 12 as seen in the figure. This guide is generally concentric with and placed a slight distance from the drum, the guide extending from a position to the right of roll 38 to a position immediately above conveyor 19. A recessed stop shoulder 43 is provided at an intermediate portion of guide 42, and a fixed cam 44 (shown in the form of a stationary bar extending between discs 13 and 14) is disposed opposite shoulder 43, the cam being so located as to force the leading portion of each sheet 32 outwardly from drum 12 so that it will be removed from feed member 36 and will engage stop shoulder 43. Shoulder 43 is angularly spaced from roll 38 a distance such that the trailing edge of each stopped sheet 32 will be spaced at least slightly from roll 38, as shown by the phantom outline of a sheet 32 in the figure.

A timing feed member generally indicated at 46 is disposed behind each feed member 36 on drum 12. Each timing feed member 46 comprises a pair of pins at corresponding positions on discs 13 and 14, each pin being mounted in a radially disposed recess 47 for limited radial movement between an extended position as seen in the figure and a retracted position. A compression spring 48 is provided for urging each pin of each feed member 46 to its extended position, this position being limited by engagement of a pin 49 carried by member 46 with the outer end of a radially disposed slot 51 in disc 13 or 14. When in its extended position, each feed member 46 is adapted to engage the trailing edge of a sheet 32 which has been stopped by shoulder 43. This shoulder is rounded so that upon engagement of the sheet by member 46 the leading edge of the sheet will be dislodged from and pushed past the shoulder, member 46 continuing to push 3 sheet 32 around cam 44 to the bottom of drum 12 so that it may be pressed onto base sheet 26. Members 46 project outwardly from drum 12 a sufficient distance to maintain engagement with sheets 32 as they pass cam 44.

The angular positions of feed members 46 are accuratelylocated with respect to the positions of base sheet feed members 25 sothat the synchronized driving means which advances drum 12 and conveyor 19 will cause overlay sheet 32 to be accurately located on base sheet 26.

A stationary cam 52 is provided adjacent each disc 13 and 14 for causing feed members 46 to be retracted as they pass gap 35, so as toavoid interference between the feed members and the stacked sheets. Cam 52 is engageable by pins 49 which extend from discs 13 and 14 for this purpose.

An adhesive applying unit indicated schematically at 53 is disposed between the lower ends of the two guide members which comprise guide 42, this unit having a roller 54 for applying an adhesive material to the exposed surface of each sheet 32 as it approaches its lowenmost position.

In operation, driving means 18 will rotate drum 12 in a clockwise direction and in synchronized relation with conveyor 19. As each initial feed member 36 approaches gap 35, it will pull the lowermost sheet 32 from the stack and move it past cam 44,-this cam removing sheet 32 from feed member 36 and forcing the leading sheet edge into engagement with stop shoulder 43. As timing feed member 46 approaches gap 35, it will be temporarily retracted by cam 52 and released after the gap has been passed. Member 46 will engage the trailing edge of sheet 32, forcing its leading edge from engagement With shoulder 43 and carrying it around past adhesive applying roller 54 and onto a base sheet 26 passing between drum 12 and impression roll-27. The same action will occur when the next initial feed member 36 approaches gap 35, and is followed by the other timing feed member 46. The construction insures that only one sheet 32 will be fed at a time onto the base member, even though the feeding of successive sheets occurs in a rapid manner.

FIGURES 1 and 2 also illustrate means for marking any base sheets 26 which fail to receive the proper number of overlay sheets 32. This :means acts in response to the absence of an overlay sheet 32 in the vicinity of the central portion of guide 42. The absence of .an overlay sheet may be due to any of a number of reasons, such as the depletion of stack 33 without proper replenishment. The marking means includes a sensing switch 55 having a movable arm 56 Which carries a roller 57 constantly urged into engagement with one of the discs of drum 12, such as disc 13. This disc is of sufficient width,as seen in FIGURE 2, to permit initial feed members 36 and timing feed members 46 to pass roller 57 .without interference.

A groove 58 is formed in the outer edge of disc 13 immediately forwardly of each timing feed member 46. If the timing feed member is pushing an overlay sheet 32, the overlay sheet will cover grove 58 and roller 57 will ride over the overlay sheet. However, if there is no overlay sheet covering groove 58, roller 57 will drop into groove 58 as the groove passes thereunder, thus actuating switch 55. The switch is connected by means shown schematically at 59 to a marking device indicated generally at 61 mounted beneath conveyor 19. The conveyor may comprise the plurality of transversely spaced belts, and marking device 61 is located beneath conveyor 19 forwardly of the station at which the sheets 26 receive overlay sheets 32. Device 61 carries a crayon 62 or other appropriate marking means actuatable in response to actuation of switch 55 to mark the underside of a base sheet 26 passing thereover between two belts of conveyor 19.

In operation of the marking means, crayon 62 will normally be in its retracted position, and will remain in this position as long as switch roller 57 is prevented from dropping into either of grooves 58. If. due to the absence of an overlay sheet 32 roller 57 does drop into a groove 58, crayon 62 will be moved upwardly for a suflicient time to cause a mark to be inscribed on the underside of a base sheet 26 passing over. This mark may be utilized, for example, in a later stage of the operation, if the base sheets 26 are to be center-folded or creased transversely to the direction of movement as seen in FIGURE 1. In this case, the folded edges of any base sheets 26 not having overlay sheets 32 will display marks visible to an operator when the folded overlay sheets are stacked.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeding device, a workpiece advancing unit adapted to advance in one direction, a chute for supporting a plurality of workpieces adjacent said unit, a bottom feed chute picker on said unit for positively removing a single workpiece from said chute onto said unit, a stationary stop, means for disengaging said picker from said workpiece and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, and an end feeder on said unit behind said picker and engageable with a workpiece held by said stop to advance said workpiece past said stop.

2. In a feeding device, a rotary drum, a chute .for supporting a stack of sheets adjacent said drum, a bottom feed chute picker on said drum for positively removing a single sheet from said stack, a stationary stop, means for disengaging said picker from said sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, and an end feeder on said drum separate, from said picker and engageable with a sheet held by said stop to advance such sheet past said stop.

3. In a sheet feeding device, a sheet advancing carrier, a chute adjacent said carrier for holding .stacked sheets, a bottom feed chute picker on said carrier engageable with the lowermost sheet of said stack to draw said sheet onto said carrier, a stationarystop, means for disengaging said picker from said sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement wth said stop, an end feeder on said carrier behind said picker, and means responsive to engagement of said end feeder with said sheet for causing said sheet to be dislodged from said stop and to move with said end feeder on said carrier.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said lastmentioned-means comprising a guide in closely adjacent spaced relation with said carrier, and a rounded recessed portion in said guide forming said stop.

5. In a device for feeding overlay sheets onto base sheets, a base sheet conveyor, base sheet feed members for accurately locating base sheets in spaced relation on said conveyor, a drum mounted for rotation on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor, means for rotating said drum in synchronism with said conveyor, a chute for supporting overlay sheets in stacked relation with at least one portion of the lowermost sheet adjacent said drum, a gate for permitting only one sheet at a time to pass from said stack onto said drum, at least one bottom feed chute picker carried by said drum and adapted to engage the lowermost sheet in the stack and to draw said sheet from the stack onto said drum, a stop circumferentially spaced from said gate in the direction of feed movement, means for disengaging said pick-er from said sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, an adhesive apply ing unit adjacent said drum, and an end feeder carried by said drum behind said picker and accurately positioned with respect to the positions of said base sheet feed members, each overlay sheet being disengageable from said stop in response to engagement of the sheet by said end feeder, whereby the end feeder will be permitted to carry the overlay sheet past said adhesive unit into engagement with a base sheet advancing on said conveyor.

most sheet adjacent said drum, a gate for permitting only one sheet at a time to pass from said stack onto said drum, at least one bottom feed chute picker carried by said drum and adapted to engage the lowermost sheet in the stack and to draw said sheet from the stack onto said drum, a draw roll immediately past said gate, means urging said draw roll toward said drum so that a passing overlay sheet will be held against the drum surface, a

stop circumferentially spaced from said gate in the direction of feed movement, means for disengaging said picker from said sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, an end feeder carried by said dr-um behind said picker and accurately positioned with respect to the positions of said base sheet feed members, each overlay sheet being disengageable from said stop in response to engagement of the sheet by said end feeder, whereby the end feeder will be permitted to carry the overlay sheet into engagement with a base sheet advancing on said conveyor, a'curved guide for holding an overlay sheet being advanced by said end feeder against said drum, and an adhesive applying unit adjacent said drum and adapted to engage the exposed surface of each at a time top-ass from said stack onto said drum, at

least one bottom feed chute picker carried by said drum and adapted to engage the lowermost sheet in the stack and to draw said sheet from the stack onto said drum, a stop circumferentially spaced from said gate in the direction of feed movement, means for disengaging said picker from said sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, an adhesive applying unit adjacent said drum, an end feeder carried by said drum behind said picker and accurately positioned with respect to the positions of said base sheet feed members, each overlay sheet being disengageable from said stop in response to engagement of the sheet by said end feeder, whereby the end feeder will be permitted to carry the overlay sheet past said adhesive unit into engagement with a base sheet advancing on said conveyor, said end feeder being mounted for radial movement between extended and retracted positions, and cam means engageable with a portion of said end feeder as it approaches said gate for temporarily moving the end feeder to its retracted position so as to prevent engagement with the lowermost stacked sheet.

8. The combination according to claim 7, said end feeder having a pin extending therefrom, a slot in said drum through which said pin extends, and resilient means urging said end feeder toward its outermost position as defined by engagement of said pin with the outer end of said slot, said cam being engageable by said pin for movement of the end feeder to its retracted position.

9. In a device for feeding overlay sheets onto base sheets, a base sheet conveyor, a plurality of spaced base sheet feed members on said conveyor, a drum comprising at least two discs rotatable on an axis transverse to and above said base sheet convey-or and drum in synchronism, an overlay sheet feed chute above said drum, means for supporting a stack of overlay sheets in said chute in such manner that the leading edge of the lowermost sheet is adjacent the drum, gate means forming a gap which permits only the lowermost sheet to be drawn from said stack onto said drum, bottom feed chute pickers in corresponding angular positions on said discs engageable with the lowermost stacked sheet to draw the sheet from said stack onto said drum, a draw roll immediately past said gate means, means resiliently urging said draw roll against said drum, an arcuate guide concentric with and spaced a slight distance outwardly from said drum, said guide extending from a position adjacent said draw roll to a position adjacent said conveyor, a recessed stop shoulder formed at an intermediate portion of said guide and angularly spaced from said draw roll a distance greater than the length of each overlay sheet in its direction of movement, a cam comprising a stationary member disposed between said discs and adjacent said stop shoulder, said cam protruding a slight distance outwardly from the outer disc surfaces to force the leading portion of each overlay sheet from said pickers and into abutting relation with said stop shoulder, end feeders at corresponding angular positions on said discs accurately located With respect to said base feed members, each end feeder being movable between an extended position in which it is adapted to engage the trailing edge of a sheet held by said stop shoulder and a retracted position in which it is within the peripheral confines of the drum, means for temporarily moving said end feeder to its retracted position as .it passes said gap, the stop shoulder being rounded whereby engagement of the trailing overlay sheet edge by said end feeder will dislodge the overlay sheet from said stop shoulder and cause it to be moved toward said conveyor, and adhesive applying mean-s in'the path of movement of said overlay sheets between said stop shoulder and said conveyor.

10. In a device for feeding overlay sheets onto base sheets, a base sheet conveyor, base sheet feed members for accurately locating base sheets in spaced relation on said conveyor, an overlay sheet advancing unit, a chute for supporting a plurality of overlay sheets adjacent said unit, means for driving said unit in synchronism with said conveyor, a bottom feed chute picker on said unit for positively removing a single overlay sheet from said chute onto said unit, a stationary stop,.means for disengaging sa-id picker from said overlay sheets and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, an adhesive applying unit adjacent said overlay sheet advancing unit, and an end feeder on said overlay sheet advancing unit behind said picker and engageable with an overlay sheet held by said stop to advance said overlay sheet past said stop and said adhesive applying unit and into engagement with a base sheet advancing on. said conveyor.

11; In a device for feeding overlay sheets onto base sheets, a base sheet conveyor, base sheet feed members for accurately locating base sheets in spaced relation on said conveyor, an overlay sheet advancing unit, a chute for supporting a plurality of overlay sheets adjacent said unit, means for driving said unit in synchronism with said conveyor, a bottom feed chute picker on said unit for positively removing a single overlay sheet from said chute onto said unit, a stationary stop, means for disengaging said picker from said overlay sheet and deflecting the latter into engagement with said stop, an adhesive applying unit adjacent said overlay sheet advancing unit, an end feeder on said overlay sheet advancing unit behind said picker and engageable with an overlay sheet held by said stop to advance said overlay sheet past said stop and said adhesive applying unit and into engagement with a base sheet advancing on said conveyor, and means 7 responsive to the absence of an overlay sheet engaged by said end feeder when the end feeder moves past the stop for marking the base sheet which would have otherwise received such overlay sheet.

12. The combination according to claim 11, said lastmentioned means comprising a sensing switch adjacent said unit and movable between a first position and a second position, marking means connected to said sensing switch and movable from a retracted position when said sensing switch is in its first position to a marking position when said sensing switch is in its second position, means urging said sensing switch toward its second position, and a portion on said overlay sheet advancing unit forwardl of said end feeder for permitting said sensing switch to complete movement toward its second position, the presence of an overlay sheet at said lastmentioned portion preventing movement of the sensing switch toward its second position.

13. In combination, first workpiece advancing means, second workpiece advancing means, driving means for causing synchronized movement of said first and second workpiece advancing means to bring together succeeding pairs of first and second workpieces, and means adjacent said second workpiece advancing means responsive to the absence of a workpiece thereon for marking a corresponding workpiece on said first workpiece advancing means.

14. In combination, a conveyor for advancing base sheets in spaced relation, an overlay sheet advancing unit, means for driving said unit in synchronism with said conveyor, means for causing overlay sheets to beplaced on said advancing unit in spaced relation for placement 8 on base sheets carried by said conveyor, a sensing switch adjacent said advancing unit, marking means connected to said sensing switch and actuatable thereby to mark a base sheet on said conveyor, and spaced portions on said advancing unit for causing said sensing switch to actuate said marking means, said spaced portions being so disposed that the presence of an overlaysheet on said spaced portions will prevent the spaced portions from actuating said sensing switch.

15. In combination, a rotary drum for feeding sheets of predetermined width measured in the direction of advance of said drum, a feed member projecting radially from one portion of the periphery of said drum, a sensing switch having a member continuously engageable with another portion of the periphery of said drum spaced axially from said feed member, means urging said switch member against said drum, a recess in said drum spaced forwardly of said feed member a distance less than said predetermined sheet width, a marking member, and means responsive to actuation of said switch member by passage of said recess thereunder for actuating said marking member.

References Cited by the'Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,206,043 7/1940 Novick 93-61 2,294,520 9/1942 'Staude 93-61 2,723,604 11/1955 Fischer 93-61 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner,

R. 1. SMITH, M. L. KATZ, Assistant Examiners. 

5. IN A DEVICE FOR FEEDING OVERLAY SHEETS INTO BASE SHEETS, A BASE SHEET CONVEYOR, BASE SHEET FEED MEMBERS FOR ACCURATELY LOCATING BASE SHEETS IN SPACED RELATION ON SAID CONVEYOR, A DRUM MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID CONVEYOR, A CHUTE FOR SUPPORTING OVERLAY SHEETS IN STACKED RELATION WITH AT LEAST ONE PORTION OF THE LOWERMOST SHEET ADJACENT SAID DRUM, A GATE FOR PREMITTING ONLY ONE SHEET AT A TIME TO PASS FROM SAID STACK ONTO SAID DRUM, AT LEAST ONE BOTTOM FEED CHUTE PICKER CARRIED BY SAID DRUM AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LOWERMOST SHEET IN THE STACK AND TO DRAW SAID SHEET FROM THE STACK ONTO SAID DRUM, A STOP CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FROM SAID GATE IN THE DIRECTION OF FEED MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID PICKER FROM SAID SHEET AND DEFLECTING THE LATTER INTO ENGEGEMENT WITH SAID STOP, AN ADHESIVE APPLYING UNIT ADJACENT SAID DRUM, AND AN END FEEDER CARRIED BY SAID DRUM BEHIND SAID PICKER AND ACCURATELY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE POSITIONS OF SAID BASE SHEET FEED MEMBERS, EACH OVERLAY SHEET BEING DISENGAGABLE FROM SAID STOP IN RESPONSE TO ENGAGEMENT OF THE SHEET BY SAID END FEEDER, WHEREBY THE END FEEDER WILL BE PERMITTED TO CARRY THE OVERLAY SHEET PAST SAID ADHESIVE UNIT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A BASE SHEET ADVANCING ON SAID CONVEYOR. 